Winnipeg Jets take part in a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 254, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Blake Wheeler (right) of the Winnipeg Jets during a practice arranged for players during the lock-out in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 254, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets during a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 25, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets takes part in a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 25, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets takes part in a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 25, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Winnipeg Jets players take part in a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 254, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets takes part in a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 25, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets during a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 25, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Winnipeg Jets players take part in a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 254, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Blake Wheeler (left) of the Winnipeg Jets during a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 25, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

Winnipeg Jets take part in a practice arranged for players during the lockout in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on September 254, 2012. Marilyn Indahl/QMI AgencyMarilyn Indahl/QMI Agency

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Jets in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS — When Blake Wheeler looks into the crystal ball, he sees a higher ceiling.

Although Wheeler took an important step in his development last season, the budding power forward knows that he can still take his game to another level, whenever the lockout comes to an end and he gets back on the ice as a member of the Winnipeg Jets.

“I don’t think that I’ve plateaued,” Wheeler said during an extensive sit-down interview with The Sun at St. Louis Park Rec Center on Tuesday afternoon. “I think I can score 30 goals, that’s a good goal for me. But you have to get 20 before you get 30. It’s the start of something really good. I feel the sky is the limit for me in Winnipeg. It’s just a really good fit for me. That’s why I’m really excited to get back at it, as soon as possible.”

Wheeler’s first season with the Jets was something of a coming-out-party for the 6-foot-5 speedster from Robbinsdale, Minn.

The talent was never a question for Wheeler, but he’s taken on an expanded role since the Atlanta Thrashers acquired him along with Mark Stuart in the deal for Rich Peverley in February of 2011.

Despite a slow start that saw Wheeler go without a goal during his first 18 games, he led the Jets in scoring with 17 goals and 64 points in 80 games.

Oddly enough, part of his turnaround had plenty to do with an aspect of his game he’s been known to ignore over the years — body-checking.

“That’s one of the key ingredients that got me going last year,” said Wheeler, 26. “My dad (Jim) would attest to this and it drove him crazy because I was never the most physical football player or physical hockey player. I liked to score touchdowns and I liked to score goals and stuff like that. But he was more of a physical guy growing up, so he couldn’t understand why his son wasn’t sticking his nose in there all the time.

“I started being more physical, finishing checks and doing some of the little things that I wasn’t doing, because I was focused on scoring goals and whatever. That’s an area that got considerably better. I think I doubled my hit total from the year before and I’d like to increase that more this year. I’ve realized that if I want my game to continue to rise, I need to keep doing stuff like that. It makes you more of a complete player.”

After enduring those early offensive struggles, Wheeler opened some eyes and went through a stretch where he basically averaged a point-per-game.

“I expect that out of myself now,” said Wheeler, who was chosen fifth overall by the Phoenix Coytoes in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. “If I’m doing that and that’s my job on this team, it’s going to help us be successful. That’s the ultimate goal. The individual points are great and you want to contribute, but you want to contribute to wins. There’s nothing worse than having points and losing, that’s no fun.

“My role has increased, but I wouldn’t say it’s been more fun the last two years because I’ve played more. It’s more fun playing in the playoffs and having a chance to win the whole thing.

That’s what makes this game fun.”

Part of Wheeler’s evolution had nothing to do with numbers and more to do with becoming part of the Jets’ leadership group, whether that meant leading by example on the ice or standing at his locker and dealing with the media, both in good times and in bad.

“It increased and I’d like to see it increase more too. I sort of feed off of that,” said Wheeler. “I’ve always been a leader on team’s, growing up. I’d like to continue moving in that direction.”

Wheeler likes the direction the Jets have taken during the off-season, both in terms of locking up the likes of Ondrej Pavelec, Toby Enstrom and Evander Kane to multiyear pacts and bringing in Olli Jokinen and Alex Ponikarovsky as unrestricted free agents.

Wheeler will be a restricted free agent at the end of the upcoming season, but he isn’t about to heap any additional pressure on himself to try and secure a big deal.

“I’d love to play there for the long term. For now, you just go day-by-day and you let your play speak for itself,” said Wheeler. “I’ve gotten better about just going out and playing. I’m a hockey player, I’m not an agent. I can’t control the numbers, I can’t control the CBA or other certain elements. All I can do is play my game, try to win games and from there, you let the chips fall where they may.”

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I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.